Sunday 1 November 2026Independent admissions guidance for families and students moving between school systems2026-27 admissions calendar
CEC Education

School and university admissions guide

Deadlines

Admissions explained for families who move between school systems

CEC Education publishes step-by-step guides to international school entry, applying to universities abroad and the tests that admissions offices ask for. We explain the process and the deadlines. The decisions stay with you.

Start here: School admissions timeline Applying abroad, step by step

University applications

Applying to universities abroad step by step

A step-by-step plan for applying to universities in another country, from choosing a destination and shortlisting courses to tests, applications, offers and visas.

University applications

UCAS explained for international students

How the UCAS undergraduate application works for 2027 entry: choices, deadlines, the new personal statement format, references, offers, Extra and Clearing.

School admissions

How international schools assess applicants, when to start, and what happens when a family relocates in the middle of a school year.

University applications

The UK and US systems work on different calendars and reward different things. Our guides set them side by side.

Tests and requirements

Which tests are required, which are optional, and how scores are reported after the recent changes to TOEFL and the ACT.

Dates on the 2026-27 cycle

1 August 2026Common App opened for students entering US colleges in 2027.
15 October 2026, 18:00 UKUCAS deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
1 or 15 November 2026Usual Early Decision and Early Action deadlines at US colleges.
13 January 2027UCAS equal consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses.

Individual institutions set their own dates. The full calendar lists the sources.

Explainers

Classroom with desks and a chalkboardSchool admissionsInternational schools run their own admissions. There is no central application, and each school sets its own calendar, assessments and fees. Bookshelf full of booksUniversity applicationsApplying to university in another country means learning a second system while finishing school. Pencil and shavings on an open notebookTests and requirementsTests are one part of an application, and requirements vary by country, university and course. Laptop, coffee cup and notepad on a light wooden deskResourcesReference pages to keep open while you plan. They are short by design and link back to the full guides.

How to use this site

Start with the section that matches the next decision in front of you. Parents of younger children usually need the school admissions guides first: most international schools admit students year-round but fill popular year groups early, and the entrance assessment matters more than any interview. Students in their last two years of secondary school should read the university guides in order, beginning with the step-by-step overview, then the guide for the country they are applying to.

Every guide says when it was last reviewed. Admissions rules change each year, so treat our pages as a map and the institution's own website as the final word.